Take a Fall on the Flats
By Captain John Sahagian
October • 2007 • Fishing the Florida Keys
This time of year is high time for Florida Keys bonefish.
For many types of fishing in the Keys, the fall is a time of transition. Offshore, dolphin are making deep-water runs back south for the winter, and the sailfish are starting to arrive for their winter foraging along the coral reef line. On the reef, the mangrove snapper are starting to return inshore from their summer spawn and the grouper are returning from the deeper haunts of the summer in their attempt to stay cool.
On the flats of the Lower Keys, the day-to-day business of catching a meal by the bonefish and permit seems to just keep chugging away. It is only the large migratory tarpon that are leaving for parts unknown for their winter stay; the smaller tarpon and mid-sized local fish are left to fill the void.
Fall fishing on the flats for these elusive species, if anything, just seems to get better and better. Just a few years ago, one major study claimed the population of Keys bonefish was declining — from observations of many Keys charter captains this year, the study may have to be revisited.
Never in recent memory have so many captains had so many shots on a daily basis. Several stories review the same scenario: the client on the bow with bait ready, the captain attempting to give directions to cast to large schools of fish — giving up on specifics and just saying “cast anywhere.”
There are so many fish out there, one will find you.
ESPN is the enemy. The half-hour show, both under- and oversimplify just what it takes to be successful catching these elusive game fish. To some, they raise expectations of how many fish might be sighted and caught in the course of a normal day. The viewers don’t realize that most shows are put together with several days of editing and many skilled and experienced anglers and captains.
To others, the shows make it sound like it is the most monumental task that can be undertaken, and make it sound akin to climbing Everest. The reality, however, lies somewhere in between the two scenarios.
There are, of course, several skills needed to be consistently successful in the pursuit of these fish. The first and foremost needed for the pursuit is the ability to consistently make an accurate cast.
These fish have incredible eyesight. So the cast must be made before the fish has a chance to see you or your boat. You need to be able to get the bait out far enough so that the fish finds the bait before the fish gets too close to the boat or moves out of range. Both bonefish and permit have the tendency to be spooked by the slightest provocation.
The cast must be accurate — too far away and the bait is never noticed, too close and the bait landing will spook the fish. Casting about 4 to 5 feet in front of the fish will give you the best chance for success. If you must error, do it on the side of too far of a cast. It is possible to retrieve the bait into the strike zone, but you rarely get a second chance to cast to the same fish.
Practice, Practice
This is one of the few aspects involved with angling that can be practiced at home in your backyard. Use a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce weight and practice casting into a bucket from different distances until you have a level of consistency and a general knowledge of your limitations.
Being comfortable with your skill level in regard to casting accuracy is important because when the fish is spotted, your cast has to be fast and accurate. You will also be throwing in the factor of wind, current, and excitement.
While fish on the flats are regularly caught using fly, the skills involved are quite a bit more complex than those used in northern freshwater angling.
While a cast to the far side of a trout stream might be accomplished with a 30- or 40-foot cast, to successfully get a cast out to a flat fish without spooking it, you will need at least 50 percent more distance.
Hooking Tips
When baiting the hook with shrimp, it’s best to remove the tail if you want to do it cleanly and look like an old pro. Just bite the end of the tail off and casually spit it out.
Next, insert the hook about one third of the way up the shrimp like you’re about to run the whole shrimp onto the hook. At this point, let the hook point cut the underside of the shrimp and rotate the hook back toward the underbelly and re-insert it. The shrimp should look somewhat like a Texas-rigged worm and be relatively weedless.
For crab, sometimes referred to as a dollar crab, the technique is simple. Simply hook the crab through one point, about midway between the point of the shell and the body cavity. In order for the shell not to crack, it is best if you enter the hook from the bottom up with a drilling motion. Once you have placed the hook into the crab, break off the last bit of the tip of the shell point on the hook side.
Gear Setup
Use a tail-holder hook, attach a float 1½ to 2 feet up with 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. Above the hook, press on a 3/16- to 1/8-ounce split shot. Connect the leader to your main line with an Albright knot, uni-to-uni, or a surgeon’s loop. If you’re using spectra line like PowerPro, use a uni-to-uni with an extra wrap.
The rod should be 7 to 7½ feet and have a good flex tip for casting precision and fish handling. Spinning gear should be smooth and hold the necessary backing and drag capacity to handle these strong fish.
Whether shrimp or crab, fly or spin, the fall is a fantastic time to get on the flats and take a shot at the big three: bonefish, permit, and tarpon. Just don’t forget to practice.
Captain John Sahagian
FunYet Charters – Little Torch Key
305-587-3493 | www.funyetcharters.com